Kirkwood Comes Up Just Short of 10th Title; DMACC, NIACC Pick Up Tournament Wins

High school girls basketball game in an indoor gym, with several Kirkwood players in black and blue uniforms standing on the court. A tall player at center claps her hands and looks focused, while teammates wearing numbers 0 and 4 stand nearby. Opposing players in white uniforms are blurred in the background, creating a sense of live action and team communication during competitive youth basketball.

March 25, 2026

HICKORY, N.C. - For the first time in ICCAC history, three teams qualified for the national tournament. Kirkwood got back to the final, finishing runner-up, while NIACC and DMACC each won a game before being knocked out of the tournament.

NIACC won the automatic bid from the conference after winning the Region 11-B Championship and was placed as the No. 8 seed. DMACC claimed the Region 11-A Championship and also took the North Central District Championship to earn the No. 13 seed with an automatic qualification. Kirkwood earned an at-large bid after being ranked highly throughout the season and placed as the No. 6 seed.

Kirkwood (National Runner-Up, 3-1):

The Eagles made a deep run in the tournament, returning to the national title game after a one-year hiatus. To kick off their run, they faced CCBC Essex (Md.) and started with a commanding first quarter, taking a 19-9 lead, with Olivia Wren scoring nine points in the quarter. The Knights made it a game with a comeback in the second quarter, but a great all-around performance by the Eagles carried them to a 68-50 win.

In the quarterfinals, the Harcum Bears faced Kirkwood. Another massive quarter, 21-9, gave the Eagles a strong lead to build upon. Behind a 16-point game from Erianne Moeschter and a smothering defensive performance, Kirkwood won the game 59-43.

Moving on to the Final Four, Kirkwood had to face the No. 2-seeded Illinois Central Cougars. In a tough clash between the two sides, Wren stood out with 18 points, making 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Her scoring, along with four other Eagles hitting double figures, carried them past the Cougars in a 66-59 win.

After missing out last season, the Eagles were back in the national title game and this time faced the Pima Aztecs. The Eagles got off to a hot start, with Wren scoring eight points and knocking down two 3-pointers to give the Eagles a 22-13 lead after the first quarter. The Aztecs cut into the lead, but Kirkwood led 30-27 at halftime. An even third quarter led to a showdown in the fourth. Despite three players scoring in double figures, the Eagles fell 64-58 to conclude their 30-5 season.

Game Results:

Second Round: (6) Kirkwood def. (11) CCBC Essex (N.Y.), 68-50 - Box Score
Quarterfinals: (6) Kirkwood def. (3) Harcum (Penn.), 59-43 - Box Score
Semifinals: (6) Kirkwood def. (2) Illinois Central, 66-59 - Box Score
Semifinals: (4) Pima def. (6) Kirkwood, 66-59 - Box Score

NIACC (Did Not Place, 1-1):

For the first time since 2020, the Trojans made the national tournament and opened play against the Lincoln Land Loggers (Ill.). Scoring 20-plus points in all but one quarter, the Trojans built a 14-point lead in the first quarter behind a complete team performance; by halftime, they led 39-29. A perfect third quarter by Ciara Seifert, going 6 of 6 from the field and scoring 12 points, increased the lead to 19 for NIACC, as they went on to win 84-65. Seifert led the Trojans with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Reggi Spotts also surpassed 20 points with 22 and added five assists.

In the quarterfinals, the Trojans faced the top-seeded Johnson County Cavaliers (Kan.). The Cavaliers entered the game as the reigning national champions and carried a 38-game winning streak. In the first half, the Trojans fell behind 46-35, but a defensive clinic in the third quarter brought them back into the game, as the team combined for six steals and seven forced turnovers. The Trojans outscored the Cavaliers 20-10 to cut the deficit to 56-55, setting up a push for the lead in the fourth quarter. Exchanging baskets in the fourth quarter, the Trojans fell 79-77, as their season came to an end at the hands of the eventual third-place finishers, ending the year with a 28-4 record.

Game Results:

Second Round: (8) NIACC def. (9) Lincoln Land (Ill.), 84-65 - Box Score
Quarterfinals: (1) Johnson County (Kan.) def. (8) NIACC, 79-77 - Box Score

DMACC (Did Not Place, 1-1):

For the first time in program history, the DMACC Bears qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament. The Bears earned a favorable matchup with the No. 20-seeded Monroe Tribunes (N.Y.) and started fast, overwhelming the Tribunes by establishing a 21-9 lead in the first quarter by forcing 10 turnovers. The Bears were not outscored in a single quarter of the game as they won 62-47, capturing their first NJCAA tournament win in program history behind 19 points and seven steals from Whitney Jensen.

The win set up a second-round matchup with No. 4-seeded Pima (Ariz.). The Bears stuck with the Aztecs in the first half, trailing only 32-28, with Breeley Clayburg going 5 of 5 from the field and scoring 11 points. The second half saw the teams swap strong quarters, but DMACC's rally in the fourth fell short, and their season concluded with a 71-64 loss. The game ended a historic season for the Bears, who accomplished multiple firsts and finished with a 26-9 overall record.

Game Results:

First Round: (13) DMACC def. (20) Monroe (N.Y.), 62-47 - Box Score
Second Round: (4) Pima (Ariz.) def. (13) DMACC, 71-64 - Box Score